Give Judge Venckiene Her Day in Court

In 2008, 4-year-old Deimante Kedyte described her sexual assault by high-level Lithuanian officials, with the involvement of her biological mother. Although her testimony was verified as true by 4 separate commissions, she never had her day in court. Her father pursued justice, but was murdered in 2010. Deimante’s aunt, judge Neringa Venckiene, was awarded custody of the girl and provided a loving home. Even though the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to indict the girl's biological mother, the prosecutors refused to do so. Furthermore, in May of 2012, a terrified Deimante was abducted from Neringa’s home by 240 police officers and returned to the biological mother. She has never been seen again. Neringa feared for her life and fled Lithuania with her son in 2013. Today, the Lithuanian government continues to persecute Neringa by bringing charges agaisnt Neringa's family, her friends and supporters and attempting to get the U.S. to extradite her back to Lithuania before the asylum case takes place.

On June 25th, Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Randy Hultgren introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to allow judge Neringa to continue with her asylum request.

We encourage members of the House and the Senate to support the bill (Smith-Hultgren bill, H.R.6218) and protect judge Neringa from political persecution.